Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Lighter Date: 27 Jan 23 - 08:33 AM A little earlier: Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Ut.) (July 24, 1902), p. 2: “‘Why I cut loose from Sarah,’ ‘Slide, Kelley, slide,’ and ‘Looking through the slats of grandpa’s wooden leg.’” Buffalo [N. Y.] Morning Express (July 29, 1903), p. 7: “I expected I might be called on to speak on peeping through the knothole in papa’s wooden leg or on some kindred wholesome subject.” |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 26 Jan 23 - 10:01 PM While looking through a window, a second story window I fell and sprained my eyebrow on the sidewalk, the sidewalk. Go get the Lysterine, Sister wants a beau, and a boy's best friend is his mother, his monther. While looking through a knothole in Father's wooden leg Why do they build the shore so near the ocean? the ocean? A snake's belt slips because he's got no hips And a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,GUEST Date: 28 Apr 22 - 06:35 PM First heard this on a TV kids cartoon show in the 1950's. They used to run those old 1930's black and white ones, like Bosco, or Betty Boop and Grampy. Oh, peeking through the knothole On grandpa's wooden leg Who will wind the clock when I am gone Go get the axe There's a wart on Nelly's nose And a boy's best friend is his mother |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 20 Nov 20 - 09:15 AM A looking through a knot hole in father’s wooden knee I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement Go get the axe There’ a hair on baby’s chest For boys best friend is his mother I wish I had. Buick A six cylinder Buick But a Ford will fit my pocket book much better Go get the axe There’s a hair on baby’s chest For a boys best friend is his mother . |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Lighter Date: 03 Nov 20 - 06:58 AM St. Louis Republic (Apr. 24, 1904), p.1: "GRIDIRON CLUB...Washington, Apr. 23.--Four members of the [United States Supreme Court] then sang...a song, the title of which was given as 'Peeping Through the Knothole in Papa's Wooden Leg; or, Why Was the Ocean Built So Near the Shore?'" Time for a reprise. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,ramapith Date: 03 Nov 20 - 02:02 AM The 24 Sep 15 poster says, "I learned this from a cartoon I used to see on TV in the 50s." This can only be ALASKA, an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eMFJvDtWAo Those were certainly on TV in the 1950s, and they're all over YouTube today. The cartoon has "Who will wind the clock when I am gone?" rather than a repetition of the ocean/shore line, but otherwise has every one of the lyrics this poster remembered. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: leeneia Date: 30 Mar 20 - 04:20 PM Is 'tookest' really a word? Ah, Lighter, how you tantalize. But I can't find any music called 'Give Back the Horn Thou Tookest' or 'Globenblookerski.' |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Lighter Date: 29 Mar 20 - 03:31 PM Trenton [N.J.] Evening Times (Aug. 28, 1903), p. 3: "The program: Opening chorus, 'Hail! Hail!' march, 'Susie's Delight'; ballad, 'Give Back the Horn Thou Tookest'; overture, 'Globenblookerski'; song, 'Looking Through the Knot-hole in Papa's Wooden Leg' [etc.]." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Mrrzy Date: 22 Jun 19 - 01:36 PM Build. Build a sewer. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Mrrzy Date: 22 Jun 19 - 12:16 PM No more booze, no more booze, no more booze on Sunday No more booze, no more booze, gotta get your can filled Monday Was the chorus of the We need them sheets for the tablecloth/face like a hoooorrrse and buggy song. Ed McCurdy. Also they are moving Father's grave to nuild a sewer is in here somewhere... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: RTim Date: 20 Jun 19 - 07:43 PM Did you know that "Listerine" was originally marketed as a Floor Cleaning product!!! Tim Radford |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Guest Date: 20 Jun 19 - 06:27 PM My mother used to sing a variation of these lyrics. She was born in 1925, and I remember her singing this song when I was about 4 in 1955: "Looking through a knothole, in grandpa's wooden leg, I slipped and broke my eyebrow on the pavement. Go get the Listerine, sister wants a beau, But the beau's best friend is his mother." Since I was about 4 or 5, "beau" could have been "bowl", and in the last line, "beau's" could have been "boy's". However, what I thought I heard made/makes the most sense to me, and it's what still runs through my head. I don't remember hearing any more lines to the song. Very interesting reading the different lyrics that other people know. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Banjerbob Date: 20 Apr 19 - 03:47 PM My dad and his dad would sing that all the time. Grandpa said he learned asa child in Cinderford, Gloustershire England, near the Welsh border. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Joe_F Date: 18 Jun 18 - 06:18 PM In the Scottish Students' Song Book, the line "Father's pants will soon fit Willie" belong to another song, TTTO "Cwm Rhondda". The rest of it is "Will 'e wear 'em? Willie will" over & over. It is merged with "You must eat when you are hungry" etc. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 18 Jun 18 - 03:23 PM this seems to have waves of populairty, 1920a, 40s, 50s, etc. but there is a line of it in James Joyce;s "Ulysses" (just read over the weekend for Bloomsday) so it must have been a music hall song in the late 19th c. in one form or another. the line quoted is "Papa's pants will soon fit Willie" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,cynthia Date: 11 Mar 16 - 12:30 PM this is how my family sang it Lookin through the knothole in Grampa's wooden leg who'll wind the cat when I'm gone Go get the axe there's a flea on lizzies ear and a boys best friend is his mother.. I never heard any over verses.. this is so cool to see how we all passed this song down through our families! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 24 Sep 15 - 12:59 PM I learned this from a cartoon I used to see on TV in the 50s. I fell out the window, A second story window Stubbed my eyebrow on the windowsill Go get the axe, there's a flea in Lizzie's ear For a boy's best friend is his mother. Sittin' on a buzz saw A hand-embroidered buzz saw Why is the ocean near the shore? Go get the flea, there's an axe in Lizzie's ear For a boy's best friend is his mother. Peepin' thru the knothole In Grampaw's wooden leg Why is the ocean near the shore? Go get the axe, there's a wart on Father's nose For a boy's best friend is his mother. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,slehto Date: 16 May 13 - 11:45 PM My dad used to sing this tune to we kids in the 1950s. He learned it at San Francisco, Boy Scouts in the late 1920s I think. He knew a few crazy song that really made a hit with us. The horses run around, their feet are on the ground Who will wind the clock when I'm away... away. Go get the Listerine, sister's got a beau. Oh, I hope that grandma's teeth will soon fit Jenny, fit Jenny. Lookin through the knothole, on grandpa's wooden leg, Why do they build the shore so near the ocean. the ocean A snakes belt always slips, just because he has no hips, and his belt line is just below his neck tie, his neck tie. Lookin through a window, a second story window, I slipped and sprained by eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement, Go get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chin, Oh a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother. She spanked him with a shingle, and made his panties tingle, Because he socked his little baby brother, his brother, Runnin down the lane, with his britches full of pain, Oh a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 29 Jun 12 - 03:48 PM My mom, born in 1912, said she sang it as a young child. Her second verse: Why do they build the ocean so close to the shore? There's wrinkles even in a young prune. Father cut your toenails You're ripping all the sheets! My girl's as sweet as sugar, twice as lumpy! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Guest Date: 24 Jun 12 - 07:54 PM My gram's version, it was taught to me when I was la little girl, my grandmother learned it when she was a little girl in the 1920s. While peeking' through the knothole in Daddy's wooden leg Why do they build the shore so near the ocean Who cut the sleeves out of dear old daddy's vest And dug up Johnny's grave to build a sewer Now mother sleeps much better since daddy washed his feet He's gonna cut his toenails so he don't rip up the sheets Run Johnny, run there's a fly on baby's... Head A boy's best friend is his mother |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,guest Date: 20 Jun 11 - 04:59 PM Peepin' through the knothole, in Grandpa's wooden leg, who will wind the clock while we're away? We feed the baby garlic so we can see him in the dark a boy's best friend is his mother! My dad born in 1920 used to sing this to us. I loved it because it was so deliciously nonsensical. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 13 Jun 11 - 06:52 PM We sang "Grampa's" wooden leg - |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 16 Apr 11 - 11:55 AM Looking thru a window A second story window I fell and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, pavement Run get the ax, there's a hair on baby's chest Who cut the sleeves off grampa's vest, vest Looking thru a knot hole In grampa's wooden leg who will wind the clock when I am gone, gone We feed the baby garlic so we find him in the dark A boy's best friend is his mother, mother He has a wooden leg, with thumbtacks for his garters The onion is a husky vegetable, ble A snakes' belt never slips, because he has no hips His waistline comes up below his necktie, necktie The horses run around, their feet are on the ground Why did they build the shore so near the ocean, ocean Run get the listerine, sister wants a beau We hope that grama's teeth will so fit Jenny, Jenny |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,j9 Date: 31 Mar 11 - 07:46 PM My family version of another song that uses some of the above (and it's unnamed except you also can find some similar verses from "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'" -- The chambermaid came to the door, "Wake up you lazy sinners. We need those sheets for tablecloths, and it's darn near time for dinner." Ohhhhh, she's the only girl I loved, with a face like a horse and buggy, leaning up against the lake, "Oh, fireman! Save my child." Well, the child was bigger than the fireman. "Go easy with that monkey wrench, your father was a nut." Some nonsensical combination, wouldn't you say? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:48 PM At the April dinner of the GridIron club, that should be |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:47 PM Except one from 1888! WHEN WAS A DUMB MAN SENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE? At the April ginner of the FridIron club at the Arlington hotel in Washington, April 22, four members sung to the tune of "The little black bull" a song, the title of which was given as "Peeping through the Knot Hole in Papa's Wooden Leg or Why Was the Ocean Built so Near to the Shore?" We reprint from the report in the Chicago Tribune: David B Hill came down the mountain Hoosan Johnny, Hoosan Johnny, David B Hill came down the mountain Long time ago. He picked out a man whose name is Parker Hoosan Johnny, Hoosan Johnny, He picked out a man whose name is Parker Long time ago. He says: "Don't talk, and we'll beat T. Roosevelt," etc Peterson's magazine, vol 92 1888 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:33 PM Catalog of copyright entries: Part 3, Volume 35, Issue 1 Library of Congress. Copyright Office - 1941 10408 Peeping through the big knot-hole in papa's wooden leg ; w[ords] & m[usic] F. Delker. © 1 c. Feb. 28, 1940. Doesn't mean that F Delker wrote it, but I don't find any reference before 1940 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,G Rady Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:18 PM Peeking through the knothole in father's wooden leg ,who will wind the clock when he is gone? Go easy on the monkey wrench , my father was a not, if you don't like Lucky's ,smoke Camel cigerettes. My father sang this. He was born in 1908. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Fathe From: GUEST Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:46 AM The only lines I remember (and this may be combining different verses) were While looking through a knothole, in Father's wooden leg, O why'd they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean? A snake's belt slips 'cause he hasn't any hips, And a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother. I haven't come across this song since my 5th grade teacher taught it to us in 1956. he was a new teacher in that school district that year and apparently there were some parental complaints, as he was told to cease the use of songs that were not in the approved textbook. David Willoughby dfwilloughby@cox.net |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,another version Date: 14 Jul 10 - 02:58 PM lookin' through the knothole in father's wooden leg, he uses thumbtacks for garters. snake belt's slip just because he has no hips. oh, why do they put the shores so near the ocean? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Muncie, IN - Camp Windigo - Girl Scouts Date: 21 May 10 - 05:46 PM from Girl Scout Camp Windigo, near Muncie, Indiana 1970 or so) The horses run around, their feet are on the ground Who will wind the clock while Im a-way a-way A snake's belt slips, because he has no hips And his waistline is just below his necktie, his necktie. Looking through a knothole in father's wooden leg Why'd they build the sea so near the ocean, the ocean Go get the axe, theirs a hair on baby's chest And who cut the sleeves off father's vest? His vest She spanked her with a shingle and made her panties tingle Because she hit her little baby brother, her brother Go get the Lysterine, Sister wants a beau And we hope that grandma's teeth will soon fit Janie, fit Janie Looking through a window, a second-story window I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement We feed our baby garlic so we can find him in the dark and a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Laurie nee Norton Date: 16 Dec 09 - 02:37 AM My great-grandfather (dob 1892) would sing a song to me when he was in his late 80s, back in the 1980s. He had dementia at the time, and my grandmother would assure me that if he was in his right mind he wouldn't sing it in front of young girls. I thought it was funny and my sister and I memorized what little he sang to us. I'm sure its incomplete, and I appreciate the versions others have contributed to help fill in the blanks. Oh, looking through the knot-hole in father's wooden leg, Who will milk the cow when I'm gone,gone, gone? Sister get the axe, there's a fly on baby's head and a boy's best friend is his mother... he would also sometimes finish this and other songs like, Red Wing "...without a shirt, or any pants." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 11 Nov 09 - 07:57 PM one verse goes like this pa took me to the woodshed to give my pants a dustin' oh why'd i ever hit my baby brother, brother tearin' down the lane with my pants all full of pain oh a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Joybell Date: 08 Sep 09 - 10:20 PM From my True-Love, Hildebrand: my father 1900-1950 had a couple of versions of this, one of which is prefaced by a version of "no more booze". it's interesting because it refers to the custom of "rushing the growler" -- taking an empty bucket to the saloon to get it filled with take-home beer. there was a little man, and he had a little can, and he went to rush the growler. but when he got there, the place was bare, and he heard the barkeeper holler: no booze today, no booze today! you can't buy booze on sunday. no booze today. you'll have to wait till monday. oh, the sweetest girl i know has a face like a horse and buggy.. go get the ax. there's a flea on baby's head. why did they build the ocean so close to the shore? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:04 PM My version came from an Irish Mother. Peekin' through the knothole on pa's ole wooden leg Who'll milk the cow's when I am gone? Who'll mend the knees of pa's old BVD's Well, He drank it up and married ole Aunt Molly. Amorette Kelso, Vinco, OK |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST Date: 16 Apr 09 - 11:33 AM While lookin' through a knothole In grandpa's wood leg Oh why do they build the beach so near the ocean, the ocean OH go get an ax, there's a hair on babies chin And grandma's teeth will soon fit Jenny, fit Jenny! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Mark Shields Date: 06 Apr 09 - 01:40 AM My grandmaw use to sing, "Peep'n through the knothole in grandpaw's wooden leg. Who'll wind the clock when era I'm gone? Go fetch an axe there's a fly on baby's head; and a boy's best frend is his mother." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:32 AM Sarah, Sarah. Or A donkey cart built for two ("I've got such a nice young man ...") Author: Bedford, Harry Performer: Carney, Kate Printer: March, R. and Co. (London) Date: between 1877 and 1884 I can't quite make out the copyright of Daisy Bell, but it looks like 1892. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:29 AM (Typo Starring, not starting) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: pavane Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:28 AM A few comments. 1. There is a song called something like "A donkey cart made for two", starting Sarah, Sarah, which seems to predate "Daisy Daisy" and her bicycle, and also Daisy Bell. I will try and dig it out from the Bodleian, where I found it. 2. "They dug up Billy's bones to make a sewer" might be derived from, or related to "They're moving Grandpa's grave to build a sewer" 3. Yes, it did remind me of Lizzie Borden too |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Snuffy Date: 03 Sep 08 - 08:34 PM Lizzie Borden was "whacky" with an H. Perhaps it was the flea in her ear. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Jim Dixon Date: 03 Sep 08 - 08:07 PM ASCAP lists a song called THERE'S A FLEA IN LIZZIE'S EAR with the alternate title GO GET THE AXE. It was allegedly written by Robert Melvin Schultz, Jr., and published by Beam Me Up Music c/o Warner Brothers. However, if you look at a list of songs by Mr. Schultz, you will see quite a few familiar titles which I'm sure didn't originate with him. He's probably the kind of guy who claims a copyright when he makes a minor change to a traditional song. Allmusic.com lists a recording of GO GET THE AXE by Randy Kaplan, on the album "Boyish Hips," 1997, where it is called "traditional." Here's an excerpt: ...get the axe; there's a flea in Lizzie's ear. A boy's best friend is his mother. Peepin' through the knothole of grandpa's wooden leg, Why did they build the shore so near the sea? Who cut the sleeves off of dear old Daddy's vest...? Other albums containing GET THE AXE or GO GET THE AXE, according to Gracenote.com: "Obscenity in the Milk" by Milhouse. "Homeschooler's Folksong Collection" by The Homestead Pickers. "150 Sing-Alongs" by Baby Basics. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Jim Dixon Date: 02 Sep 08 - 06:48 AM I'd prefer "wacky" but dictionaries also list "whacky." Anyway, the original title of "A Bicycle Built for Two" was DAISY BELL. Later editions of the sheet music called it A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO (Also Known As "DAISY BELL"). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 31 Aug 08 - 10:06 PM Or is that spelled wacky? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 31 Aug 08 - 10:05 PM The name of the song is 'Go Get the Axe.' Google it if you wish to verify. I know, that's like naming Bicycle Built for Two 'I'm Half Crazy.' But since the whole song is whacky, why not dip into the verbiage and pull out a phrase at random to be the title? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,Bob, Sacramento Date: 31 Aug 08 - 06:08 PM All of our fathers sang this to us as kids, it seems. Mine probably learned it as a Boy Scout in San Francisco during the late 20s. The odd thing to me is that no one in this string seems to know the actual title. I got here simply by Googling the lyric, "Peepin' through the knothole in father's wooden leg." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Fathe From: GUEST,Stephen Swain Date: 21 Jun 08 - 10:43 AM Looking through a knot hole in father's wooden leg I fell and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement the sidewalk Run fetch the Listerene, sister's got a beau, we feed our baby garlic so we can find him in the dark. And a boy's best friend his his mother, his mother. My father sang this song to us when we were children. He had sung it in college as part of the Glee Club repertoire. I don't remember all the verses, but there were many. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Fathe From: GUEST,the knothole song Date: 06 May 08 - 05:51 PM that I learned Peeping through the knothole on Grandpa's wooden leg, who will feed the cat while I'm away? Go and get the axe, there's a fly on baby's head, and a boy's best friend is his uncle. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 30 Apr 08 - 11:10 AM Shades of Camp Chawanakee, circa 1955-6. One of the counselors sang this song at campfires. Later, after I had begun to be more involved in music, someone gave me a copy of "Song Fest," the Outing Club publication mentioned above, in which this song appears. There is a lot of material in that little book. Several friends and I drew from it for comedy bits, nonsense songs and the like. Other songs that I recall are "Thais"(the many-versed saga of a libidinous monk and a belly dancer), Abdullah Bulbul Amir and "The Vassar Hygiene Song." I still have the book. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's From: Dave Hunt Date: 30 Apr 08 - 09:36 AM As I remember it the Steve Benbow version had the following - I've been singing it for years - along with a lot of other very silly songs (as my mate Baz says of me --'Head full of sh*te') A Boys Best Friend is His Mother. Peeping through the knothole of Grandpa's wooden leg Who'll wind the cat up when I'm gone Who cut the sleeves out of Grandma's woollen pants And a boy's best friend is his mother. Peeping through the knothole of Grandpa's wooden leg Who'll put the clock out when I'm gone Who cut the legs out of Grandma's woollen vest And a boy's best friend is his mother A horse stood around with his feet all on the ground Why'd they build the shore so near the ocean Go fetch the axe there's a flea on Lizzies ear And a boys best friend is his mother I fell from a window just forty stories high Caught my eyebrows on the windowsill The cellar's behind the door, Mary's room's behind the axe And a boy's best friend is his mother Dr.Sunshine (Dave Hunt) |
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